subterfuge.

A deceptive device or maneuver used to conceal an aim or evade a difficulty.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• use subterfuge
• elaborate subterfuge

On the page

The inspection was a subterfuge for searching the office.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Countable or uncountable by context; countable singular subterfuge; plural subterfuges. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: character, atmosphere, interpretation. Commonness: moderately common.